Mertensia longiflora
Encyclopedia
Mertensia longiflora is a species of flowering plant in the borage family
known by the common names small bluebells and long bluebells. It is native to western North America from British Columbia
to California
to Montana
, where it grows in several types of habitat. It is a perennial herb producing an erect stem from a branching caudex
, approaching 40 centimeters in maximum height. There are a few oval to lance-shaped leaves. The inflorescence
is a dense, often crowded cluster of hanging tubular flowers with expanded, bell-like mouths. They are generally bright blue, but may be lavender to pinkish to nearly white, and measure up to 2.5 centimeters long.
Boraginaceae
Boraginaceae, the Borage or Forget-me-not family, include a variety of shrubs, trees, and herbs, totaling about 2,000 species in 146 genera found worldwide.A number of familiar plants belong to this family....
known by the common names small bluebells and long bluebells. It is native to western North America from British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, where it grows in several types of habitat. It is a perennial herb producing an erect stem from a branching caudex
Caudex
A caudex is a form of stem morphology appearing as a thickened, short, perennial stem that is either underground or near ground level . It may be swollen for the purpose of water storage, especially in xerophytes...
, approaching 40 centimeters in maximum height. There are a few oval to lance-shaped leaves. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is a dense, often crowded cluster of hanging tubular flowers with expanded, bell-like mouths. They are generally bright blue, but may be lavender to pinkish to nearly white, and measure up to 2.5 centimeters long.